Are we having fun yet?

OK, that title is a bit facetious, but I was struck in week 1 when JaneB talked about paper chains as a playful way of keeping track of things, and Good Enough Woman talked about relaxing on a weekend away. Then this past week, Allan Wilson noted about one task down, “That was fun even.”   When academics talk about work, we often don’t sound as if we’re having fun.  I’m not sure whether that’s because academics don’t have fun (most of us carry around a lot of shoulds and oughts, and consequent feelings of guilt and/or failure), because we put in TLQ research things that feel more urgent than playing, or because we don't have to put the things we find fun on lists.  But I’m fairly certain none of us would have begun the work we do if it wasn’t satisfying and enjoyable in some way: something we knew we could do and do well, yes, but also something that was, for want of a better word, fun.   And I suspect most of us continue in that work for the same reason.  So my question for this week is where do we find joy/pleasure/satisfaction/fun (pick your word of choice) in our everyday work lives?  And how can we integrate that into our goals so that TLQ as well as TRQ includes enjoyment as well as obligation?

Goals from last week:

Contingent Cassandra

--Continue exercising (add weights); try to keep to regular sleep schedule

--Cook/freeze a pot or two of soup

--Figure out exactly what I need to do when for DH class; create 2 more exercises; begin work on demonstration items/exhibits and assignments.

--Submit proposal for talk on DH class if it's not too late.

--Finish dismembering tree & remove from apt.; other apt/garden work as possible.

--At least some work on finances.

Susan

1. Undertake quick review of secondary literature, just to get a sense of what's there.

2. Review primary source notes for new chapter

3. Read two plays for new chapter

4. Finish reading articles for article prize competition

5. Walk or other exercise 5 days

6. Continue 5 minutes daily on either clutter or garden

7. Tax stuff - file foreign taxes, get started on local ones

Matilda

1) Week 3- 1 of Belcher's book. I will take 3 weeks for Chapter 3.

2) Review one important book.

3) Start to write the review article.

4) To exercise for 5 minutes everyday.

5) 3 no-snack-days this week.

Earnest English

-write often and get something onto the computer

-1 hour at least on scholarship

-get ahead on teaching matters

-eat/make good food, especially dinner

-do Artist's Date on Wednesday

-maintain limits about my time

-work on unpacking boxes

-yoga/meditation at least once this week!

Humming42

1. get it all done.

2. finish and submit end of month article.

3. submit creative piece. A short list, because of get it all done, but these things are basically at TRQ now, except for #3. Will do what we can!

Elizabeth Ann Mitchell

1) Write 100 words at least 3 times during the week.

2) pack and prepare car for conference that begins Friday

3) prepare my moderator script for Saturday, by writing the bio for one speaker on Monday, another on Tuesday, another on Wednesday, and the last on Thursday

4) Monday, call to schedule one doctor’s appointment; Tuesday, call for another one; and on Wednesday, call for a third.

Daisy

1) Send paper A (easy goal for positive reinforcement)

2) Draft B

Amstr

1) re-organize weekly schedule to reflect real constraints

2) 3 hours of work on cutting and pasting

3) 1/2 hour on TOC revision/brainstorming

4) 1 hour on comp research or book proposal

5) exercise 4x

Good Enough Woman

1)Track water, exercise, and spending.

2) Help daughter with presentation.

3) 5 hours on Chapter 2 and/or conference paper

4) Figure out how to best celebrate hubby on his b-day

Allan Wilson

1. Walk up hills four times this week.

2. Think about the project (ie the questions behind the spreadsheets).

JaneB (Did not check in, goals from Week 2)

1) aquire or print out a calendar page and some coloured stickers, post them where I can see and use them to record my chain efforts

2) 5 minutes every day of house related stuff

3) 5 minutes every day of some kind of exercise

4) 2 lots of 30 minutes on Crunchier

Kjhaxton (Did not check in, goals from Week 2)

(1) get the fabric cut for the 40 bags I have to make and buy the thread.

(2) make some progress on transcribing the paper.

(3) get back into the habit of writing each day.

two weeks down

I went to yoga with my neighbor this week. I haven't been to a yoga class in ages. Thankfully, the teacher was gentle. In the midst of all the stretching, she talked a bit about our plans for ourselves and our bodies, and she used the word "intentions." As in, "what intentions do you have for yourself this week?" It got me thinking about the terminology we use in creating habits or furthering (or adding to?) our accomplishments: goals, resolutions, intentions, etc. Are there words that you find more helpful? Less helpful? Why? Do you imagine yourself going into battle and conquering tasks? Gently coaxing a seedling habit to sprout? How do those words or images help or hinder you?

Suggested format:

• Thoughts or responses to the week's question or issue
• Report/comments on last week's goals
• Goals (intentions?) for next week

For easy reference, here are the goals for last week:

Allan Wilson:

1. finish the next spreadsheet

2. add in a couple more bits of data from the fieldwork

3. plan to exercise daily using Seinfeld chains, with no particular time limits

4. think about the questions we are using the spreadsheets for.

Amstr:

1) D2B cut and paste intro and first chapter into new sections

2) take another look at provisional TOC

3) journal 5x

4) exercise 4x; track food

5) read a couple chapters on writing a book proposal

Contingent Cassandra:

--Continue work on establishing exercise/sleep routines

--cook/freeze another pot of soup

--finish DH syllabus & calendar; create prep/testing exercises for first major reading/module; make substantial progress on figuring out DH tool & crafting assignment(s) using it.

--dismember Christmas tree; transport to garden for use as mulch/bulb cover; other apartment/garden work as possible.

Daisy:

1) Draft of paper B

2) Fix figure on paper A and send to readers

3) Get classes a bit more caught up and plan a week ahead.

Earnest English:

-write often and get something onto the computer

-1 hour at least on scholarship

-get ahead on teaching matters

-eat/make good food (at least one good thing a week)

-do Artist's Date on Wednesday

-maintain limits about my time

-yoga at least 1 time this week

Elizabeth Ann Mitchell:

1) I will return to writing an hour at least five mornings out of seven.

2) I will spend at least one hour every day dealing with my email, which is still bloated from the holidays.

3) I need to schedule three doctors’ appointments.

Good Enough Woman:

1) Stock up on good food and make at least one good meal using farm box goodies.

2) Help daughter with presentation preparation.

3) Spend 7 hours on Chapter 2 research and writing

4) Add at least 1000 words to Chapter 2

Humming42:

1. Go through yoga DVD once a week. 2. Finish article with vague deadline. 3. Make substantial progress on article due at the end of the month. 4. Submit rejected creative piece to other journal.

JaneB:

1) aquire or print out a calendar page and some coloured stickers, post them where I can see and use them to record my chain efforts

2) 5 minutes every day of house related stuff

3) 5 minutes every day of some kind of exercise

4) 2 lots of 30 minutes on Crunchier

Kjhaxton:

(1) get the fabric cut for the 40 bags I have to make and buy the thread.

(2) make some progress on transcribing the paper.

(3) get back into the habit of writing each day.

Matilda:

1) Week 2 of Belcher's book.

2) The 3 articles and review one important book.

3) A progress report.

4) To exercise for 5 minutes everyday.

5) 3 no-snack-days this week. I will try it again.

Susan:

1. Map out the next chapter, and begin reading frightening amount of secondary literature. . .

2. Plan trip to lovely research library - this will help the chapter, but it also will get my mother to a dr appointment far far away.

3. Walk three days.

4. 5 minutes daily on scary piles of mail or garden stuff

One week down

**Sorry for the delay getting this post up. We had a little confusion with Blogger. Usually we will post on Fridays between noon and 6pm Pacific Standard Time (between 8pm Friday and 2am Saturday GMT).**

Thanks for signing up!   We are excited to get going.  The new year is underway, and we’ve all now had a few weeks to try to keep up with whatever resolutions we may have made.   I’ve been intrigued this year with figuring out how I can do a better job of keeping up with my resolutions.   I’m experimenting with the Seinfeld Chain, which JaneB mentioned last week:  I’ve got two going – one for some kind of exercise/activity that keeps my body moving, and one for working on the house or garden.   Amstr is tracking her food daily.   I’m curious about what works for you.  I like making visible what I’ve done, but I don’t always remember to write things down, so this may not be the best technique.  (It really adds another resolution, about writing things down!)    So my question as we move forward is, what helps you keep going on your resolutions?   Do you keep track in any way?  Is there something that has NOT worked? 

 

 Just for simplicity here’s a suggested format:

• Thoughts or responses to the week's question or issue
• Report on last week's goals
• Goals for next week

 Here are the goals for this past week:   

Allan Wilson:

1. To complete the data spreadsheet

2. Exercise four days

Humming42:

1. Go through yoga DVD once a week.

2. Finish article with vague deadline.

3. Make substantial progress on article due at the end of the month.

4. Submit rejected creative piece to other journal.

Matilda:

1) Belcher's Introduction, Week 1 & 2.

2) To read 5 important articles

3) A progress report to Professor.

4) To exercise for 5 minutes everyday.

5) 3 no-snack-days this week.

Amstr:

1) sketch plan for D2B;

2) D2B first 2 tasks (revise TOC; cut and paste sections in intro and chapter 1?

3) journal 5x/week;

4) exercise 4 times/week;

5) track food every day.

Daisy:

1) Complete draft of paper B

2) Revise figure for paper A from the last session (still not compete, but very close)

Kjhaxton:

1. Start transcribing hand written paper text into journal template form and figure out the figures needed.

2. Find out deadline and requirements for photography competition.

3. Tidy spare room for decorating (also room that holds the craft stuff so need to decorate before I can start making).

Elizabeth Ann Mitchell:

I got word this morning that the article I worked on during the last TLQ group was accepted, with revisions. I want to address all the comments of the first reviewer this week.  

Susan:

1. Complete revisions of article 3 that I wrote in September, on which I've now had comments.

2. Read book MS. for press

3. Write introductory section for chapter to ensure flow

4. Walk at least 5 days, for 1/2 hour

5. Weed back walk

6. Deal with junk pile in kitchen

JaneB:

1) abstracts for conference

2) 5 minutes every day of house related stuff

3) 5 minutes every day of some kind of exercise (more is encouraged, I'm trying to set up Seinfeld Chains so that these things are no longer occasional blitzes but are just normal)

4) work through all the comments on Crunchier, do the easy ones, write a task list for the more complicated ones.

Good Enough Woman:

1) Cook a Cuban meal for my mom's birthday this Thursday (I've never done this before, but I asked for Cuban cookbooks for my birthday, and this is her repayment!)

2) Relax during two-day get away with husband (not worrying about work or PhD)

3) Work at least 10-hours each week on thesis

4) Reading for Thesis Chapter 2: finish one primary source, re-read another, two secondary chapters

5) do 30-day challenges (water, 7 minute workout)

Earnest English:

-unpack boxes on a regular basis

-meditate at least once

-write 4x this week and get draft to computer

-get ahead with teaching matters

-1-2 hours on scholarship (reading and writing)

-spend time with hubby

-keep on top of decent food habits (especially: always go to work with food)

Contingent Cassandra:

--on the 4 days I’m working at home, work on establishing a weekday routine, including exercise and a regular bedtime, that can carry in to the semester (which starts the week after next).

--cook and freeze at least one more pot of soup.

--think about DH course goals and how I taught last time; explore additional tools/techniques I might use this time; get course site and syllabus done and begin drafting assignments/activities.

--make progress on apartment organizing, garden fence, or both (choice depends on the weather).